Archive for December, 2014

Seniors Stop In Klamath Falls

Klamath Falls, Oregon, known as the City of Sunshine enjoys nearly 300 days of sunshine each year. The city was originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867 and was named after the Link River. The name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1893.

Located in the south central region of Oregon and bordering northern California, Klamath Falls, population 42,000, sits on the southern shore of the Upper Klamath Lake, nestled in the Klamath Basin on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains.

Inhabited by Native Americans for at least 4,000 years before the first permanent settlers means there is a lot of history in and around the city. Senior travelers enjoy an outstanding array of natural and cultural wonders.

Seniors Find Unsurpassed Beauty and Diversity

Just sixty miles south of Crater Lake, and seventy miles north of Mt. Shasta, south central Oregon is unsurpassed for beauty and diversity. Senior visitors will discover a variety of outdoor recreational activities including cross country skiing, golfing, fishing (go after the Klamath Red Band Trout), hunting and canoeing.

The Fred Goeller House is one of many on the National Register of Historic Places in Klamath Falls. The Benson House is another that dates back to 1892 and the Oregon Bank Building also fits into the National Register. Take an old town historic walking tour that is rich in architectural surprises and doused with specialty shops.

Ride on the one of the historic trolleys that tour the downtown area. Senior theater lovers are invited to catch a live performance at the Ross Ragland Theater, built in 1940 and remodeled to its original art deco splendor.

Pelican Sanctuary, Crater Lake and Best Bird Watching

The 1.25-mile Link River is entirely within the city and connects Lake Ewauna with Upper Klamath Lake, which is a pelican sanctuary. Klamath Falls is headquarters of the Winema National Forest and site of the Oregon Institute of Technology. The Favell Museum of Western Art and Indian Artifacts is a major draw for senior visitors who enjoy old western culture.

Crater Lake National Park 50 miles north of the city is one of the country’s crown jewels. “No place else on earth combines a deep pure lake, so blue in color; sheer surrounding cliffs, almost 2,000 feet high; a picturesque island and a violent volcanic past.”

Just outside of the city you will find five golf courses including the only Arnold Palmer designed course in the state… so bring your clubs along and play a round or two. If history speaks to you, take in the Klamath County Museum. The Museum on Main Street serves as the main history museum for Klamath County and the surrounding area.

And birders, south east Oregon’s Klamath County is known for its splendid bird watching and is the home of the highest concentrations of bald eagles in the Pacific. Stop in Klamath Falls and enjoy… -jeb

Stroudsburg and The Poconos Invite Seniors

Here is a new wrinkle for a travel blog. I woke up early this AM and the name Stroudsburg jumped into this senior’s head. Why? I don’t know, but was reason enough for research on this city.

I discovered that Stroudsburg is a borough in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. The city was laid out by Col. Jacob Stoud (1735–1806) in 1799. Currently Stroudsburg has an estimated population of about 7,000 inhabitants.

It is located in the world famous Poconos region of the state, approximately five miles from the Delaware Water Gap, at the confluence of the Brodhead and Pocono Creeks. The Pocono region remains Pennsylvania’s biggest tourist attraction with over 8 million visitors annually. So set your GPS for Stroudsburg, senior travelers.

Historic and Traditional, Downtown Invites Seniors

Downtown Stroudsburg is known for its wide tree-lined Main Street and historically rich architecture. Senior visitors will discover in this traditional downtown area, 30 specialty shops, numerous antique stores, about 30 restaurants, 10 banks and financial centers, 9 art galleries, 8 churches and a famous theater.

Downtown is the anchor for the more and more modern shopping centers that are being built around the area, wanting to be in or near the historic downtown. TripAdvisor suggests that you start off your visit with the Sherman Theater, a major attraction in town. Senior travelers will find a host of classic B&Bs all over the area to make your stay memorable.

The Monroe County Historical Association has offices located in the historic Stroud Mansion, built in 1795 by the family that founded Stroudsburg. The rooms of the Stroud Mansion are open to the public as a museum filled with exhibits and local artifacts from times gone by.

Hiking Trails, Farmer’s Markets and Wildlife Sanctuary…

Just up the road on Route 209 is East Stroudsburg, home to the Warriors of East Stroudsburg University. You will find plenty of hiking trails in the area plus several Farmer’s Markets.

The Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary is a 166 acre preserve not to be missed. Now owned by the County, this interesting arena for outdoor programs has an old field, mature deciduous forest, evergreen stands, and two ponds. Over 2 1/2 miles of maintained and well marked trails are open for public use year-round, 7 days a week.

You will discover attractions all across the state of Pennsylvania. I challenge you to find Stroudsburg. Hint. Look straight North of Philly.

Put on your hiking boots, bring your appetite for some of the finest restaurants in the area and enjoy the many amenities of Stroudsburg. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy “Furniture City”

I’ve spent a little time in Michigan, but surly did not know that Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in the state, and the largest city in Western Michigan as well as the seat of Kent County. A historic furniture-manufacturing center, senior travelers discover that Grand Rapids is home to five of the world’s leading office furniture companies.

During the second half of the 19th century, the city became a major lumbering center, processing timber harvested in the region. By the end of the century, it was established as the premier furniture-manufacturing city of the United States. For this reason it was given the name “Furniture City”.

Its more common modern nickname of River City refers to the landmark Grand River for which it was named. U.S. President Gerald Ford, along with his wife Betty, is buried on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

Seniors Say ‘Yes’ To A Travel Destination City

The Grand Rapids area was first settled near the start of the 19th century by missionaries and fur traders. They generally lived in reasonable peace alongside the Ottawa people, with whom they traded European metal and textile goods for fur pelts.

Lonely Planet named Grand Rapids the top U.S. travel destination for 2014. “What’s the appeal,” senior travelers ask? The most vibrant downtown between Chicago and Cleveland. A world-renowned art scene. World-class craft breweries. Fascinating museums and historic sites.

It is located on the Grand River about 25 miles east of Lake Michigan with a city population that runs close to 200,000. The city and surrounding communities are economically diverse, with economies based in the health care, information technology, automotive, aviation, and consumer goods and manufacturing industries.

Seniors Experience Exhilarating Community Spirit

Grand Rapids is an exciting city and invites you to spend a few days enjoying all that it has to offer. Senior visitors will discover that Festivals are ongoing all year long, and are invited to experience the creative energy of Grand Rapids.

Located only 25 miles east of Lake Michigan, senior visitors will enjoy dazzling art and culture, awesome dining and nightlife, inspiring natural beauty and exhilarating community spirit.

You can stroll along walkable downtown jam-packed with more than 100 restaurants, clubs, theaters and museums. In Grand Rapids, every day is a work of art. You are sure to enjoy your visit. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Their Favorite Parks

Most of us senior citizens enjoy a neat park. There are dozens of “favorites” throughout the world. I did a little research on the topic and came up with a listing that went on and on. One of my favorites is the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.

I have to admit my bias on this one as I spent hours and hours just sitting on a bench in this park during my year as a graduate student at the Sorbonne. It is an awesome park and rates very high among the dozens that I came up with.

Nothing is more delightful than a public park. Fresh air, flowers and greenery are plentiful in these spaces, the perfect place to turn to when the smog of city life gets you down. That park has it all.

Big Parks, Small Parks, Seniors Love Parks

Some parks are quite large, in fact, huge! Phoenix, Arizona has a municipal park of 16,283 acres. Rock Creek Park in DC is close to 3000 acres. Portland has almost 300 hundred parks, not to mention the largest urban forest in the world, which is also a city park.

While New York has plenty of award-winning parks, Central Park remains the biggest crowd-pleaser, with a staggering 40 million annual visitors. There are thousands upon thousands of people who have special memories of the park that accommodates an incredible range of humanity. Again my bias comes through for Central Park having been invited to my nephew’s wedding at the Boat House in Central Park.

“A well-designed park is more than green space in the midst of a concrete jungle—it makes a city lovable and livable. The most beautiful combine meadows, woodlands, ponds, lakes, and streams with museums and other man-made attractions. Parks also frequently bring world-class art out into the open.”

Parks: An Oasis, A Step Away, The Perfect Antidote

Indeed, for Alain de Botton, author of The Architecture of Happiness, an urban park’s ultimate importance is in allowing us to step away from the rush. “In the midst of a busy city, a park becomes quite literally an oasis and a tree can bring about an epiphany no less intense than a beautiful painting.”

Cities across the world have put time, money and effort into beautifying their local parks, turning these expansive spaces into community hubs filled with art, music, theater and food.

Aside from a handful of world-famous green-spaces, most city parks are not on the tourist radar. Even so, many senior travelers end up stopping by a park during their travels. These natural spaces are the perfect antidote to that burned-out, overwhelmed feeling that comes from a day of sidewalk-trekking, line-waiting and sightseeing.

Seniors Visit The “Peg”

Yes, Winnipeg, Canada, whose population is 694,000+, is known by the locals as simply, The Peg. Senior travelers learn that it is known as the “Cultural Cradle of Canada.” Winnipeg is a railway and transportation hub, also known as the “Gateway to the West”.

The name Winnipeg comes from the Western Cree words for “muddy waters“. The region was a trading center for aboriginal peoples before the arrival of Europeans. French traders built the first fort on the site back in 1738.

Winnipeg, an exciting city to visit, was named the Cultural Capital of Canada in 2010 by Canadian Heritage. As of 2012, there are 26 National Historic Sites of Canada in Winnipeg.

One of these, The Forks, attracts four million visitors a year. Numerous archaeological digs have shown that early Aboriginal groups arrived at The Forks site around 6,000 years ago.

Senior Visitors Find Winnipeg Welcoming and Friendly

Known for its friendly and welcoming spirit, the city provides a diverse multicultural environment. It is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba and is located near the longitudinal center of North America.

Located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, Winnipeg was at the heart of the country’s fur trade and instrumental in developing Canada’s westward movement. Home to a grain exchange that once rivaled the largest markets in the world, Winnipeg’s architecture and neighborhoods reflect the character of this small prairie town.

Over the last decades, ‘Winnipeg has developed into a cosmopolitan city, one that enjoys top-notch restaurants and boutiques, exciting attractions and an arts and culture scene bursting with talent and originality’.

This multicultural city hosts numerous annual festivals, including the Festival du Voyageur, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, and Folklorama. It has a big sports fans base with professional baseball, football and hockey teams.

Seniors Meet A Diversity Capital

Seniors do you enjoy diversity?Winnipeg is the diversity capital of Canada. Its architecture, people, cuisine, languages spoken, festivals, special events, cultural offerings and facilities are some of the most unique and interesting in the country. It’s a multicultural place where diversity is celebrated and promoted.

Winnipeg is one of the sunniest places in Canada and summer means golf. Senior golfers can enjoy playing one of the 28 famed courses.

The city is home to a world-class arts community with ballet, theatre, visual arts, opera, contemporary dance, jazz, pop, blues and symphonic music. Multicultural experiences are rated by the Globe and Mail as being some of the best in the country.

So head north and take in the Festival du Voyageur in February for Cajun music, dog sled racing and enjoy the “joie de vivre” of French Canadian Culture. Seniors enjoy your visit and the plethora of amenities in The Peg. -jeb

Seniors Pay a Visit to Ashburn

Ashburn, with a population of over 50,000 inhabitants, is in Loudoun county, a part of Virginia’s Hunt Country where senior travelers will find a number of horse farms. Ashburn is 30 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

The city was originally called Farmwell (variant names include Old Farmwell and Farmwell Station) after a nearby mansion of that name owned by George Lee III. The name “Farmwell” was used to describe the 1,200 acre plantation he inherited from his father, Thomas Ludwell Lee II.

Major attractions in Ashburn include the Washington Redskins football team, the National Crash Analysis Center and the Old Dominion Brewing Company. Both George Washington University and Cordoba University call the city home.

Ashburn has premier golf courses and is conveniently located between Washington Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County Hospital. Furthermore, Ashburn is home to AOL, Verizon, Equinix, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Janelia Farm, and a variety of other hi-tech firms.

Seniors Walk Washington & Old Dominion Trail

Part of the 45-mile Washington & Old Dominion Trail goes through Ashburn. The 100-foot-wide trail makes a comfortable path for senior walking, biking and skating. Horseback riders find 32 miles of adjacent gravel trails available for riding.

Historically, Ashburn was a railroad town and the town was a busy and prosperous area. Ashburn’s beginnings trace back to the 1720s, when Thomas Lee and Robert Carter tried to outwit each other by buying up strategic pieces of the Virginia countryside. Each sought to control the commercial destiny of the colony. Belmont, Lee’s grandson’s Ashburn estate, is situated near the Potomac River and Goose Creek.

Senior visitors are invited to check out a number of favorites in town, including day tours, the Alamo Cinema Drafthouse and several classic parks. The town also offers golf courses, scenic and historic attractions, museums and galleries.

Grandparents and Grandkids…

Bring the grandkids along and discover 34 different types of family-friendly things to do with youngsters in or near Ashburn. The most popular types of activities for kids and families include: Amusement Parks, Performances, General Tours and Hiking.

Trailside Park is located off of Claibourne Parkway in the Ashburn Farm Community. Many natural areas were preserved and some turned into parks including Trailside Park. This Loudoun County park includes 3 baseball fields, in-line skating rink and a big playground.

Ashburn Farm was once known as Gray Dairy Farm. In 1986 construction began on the planned community of homes, town homes and condos. So drop by Ashburn when you are in northern Virginia or visiting DC. You will find it friendly and inviting all year long. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Historic Rutland

Senior travelers will find Rutland, Vermont centered in the heart of the Green Mountain State. The City of Rutland (pop. 17,000+) enjoys a thriving historic downtown, a variety of businesses and services including the Diamond Run Mall, a regional library, a regional medical center, fine schools including colleges and a technical education center.

The Rutland region offers a wide variety of arts, art events and workshops throughout the year. Downtown Rutland has an awesome historic district and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rutland began on Otter Creek as a small hamlet called Mill Village in Rutland in 1761 named after John Manners, 3rd Duke of Rutland. A Duke…pretty impressive I’d say. Within minutes of Rutland, senior tourists can enjoy many year round activities. The quiet of the colorful woods is perfect for hiking, horseback riding and mountain bike trails.

TripAdvisor has visited Rutland and has over a dozen suggested “don’t miss” things to see and do, including the Norman Rockwell Museum. On one of the many beautiful lakes in the Lakes Region senior visitors can enjoy sailing, kayaking, swimming, waterskiing and fishing.

Seniors Visit Merchant’s Row in Downtown Rutland

In the winter, senior enthusiasts enjoy world class downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Major events in Rutland include the Ethnic Festival, Friday Night Live, Art in the Park, a Summer Concert Series and the Vermont State Fair. Rutland is home to Community College of Vermont and a thriving Jewish Center.

Seniors and Mad Bum Enjoy Lenoir

Sports Illustrated highlighted Madison Bumgarner (Mad Bum) on its cover and noted that he owns a ranch in Lenoir, North Carolina. He is the pitcher hero of the last world series (SF Giants) and could live just about anywhere he might choose. He picked Lenoir and this curious senior just had to find out why.

Lenoir was honored to be chosen as the cover story on community gardening by Parade Magazine for its August 19, 2012, issue. Lenoir was named an All-American City back in 2008 and as you may know by now, Jim has nothing but respect for this honor.

Lenoir, with a population of nearly 19,000, is the county seat of Caldwell County and senior travelers will find this city in the Blue Ridge foothills. Lenoir was named for Revolutionary War figure and early North Carolina statesman General William Lenoir, who settled north of present day Lenoir. Today his restored home, called Fort Defiance, is a tourist attraction.

Senior Historical Buffs Like Lenoir

In addition to Fort Defiance, the Caldwell County Courthouse, Lenoir Downtown Historic District, the Lenoir Grammar school, Senior High School and Mary’s Grove are all named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Over the years, five major league baseball players have called Lenoir home.

The city sits next to the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Hibriten Mountain. Lenoir is one of the principal cities in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hickory is famed for its furniture.

Carolina Distillery’s Apple Brandy… A Senior Stop

Lenoir is full of historical sites. Senior visitors enjoy fine restaurants, great shopping and some fine hotels. The Broyhill Walking Park is a peaceful and serene Japanese Garden filled with neat architecture, varied plantings and water elements. The park is next to the golf course, so senior golfers, bring your clubs along.

Carolina Distillery is located in historic downtown Lenoir. Here they distill their single-barrel Apple Brandy utilizing a generations-old family recipe. The brandy is hand-crafted in a copper pot still and bottled one barrel at a time to give each batch its own unique character and flavor. It is quite unique and famed in the region.

So swing into Lenoir on your next trip through North Carolina and enjoy all the amenities that the city has to offer. Say hello to Mad Bum for me if you happen to run into him. -jeb

Seniors Stop In Goodland

There are attractions, and there are attractions. The giant reproduction of Van Gogh’s “Three Sunflowers In A Vase” can be seen from I-70 as senior travelers pass through Goodland, Kansas.

In June 2001, Goodland received this magnificent piece of art called the Big Easel. Painted by Canadian Cameron Cross, the Big Easel is a 76’ tall reproduction of Vincent van Gogh’s “Three Sunflowers in a Vase”.

Goodland, with a population around 5,000, is located in northwest Kansas, 17 miles from the Colorado border. Goodland and Sherman County, as well as northwest Kansas are known as “The Pheasant Capital of the World”. Senior golfers, bring along your golf clubs and play Sugar Hills, the only 18-hole course in northwest Kansas.

Seniors Enjoy Sunsets And Festivals

From the “top” sunsets in Kansas to the restaurants, festivals and live events, Goodland has a plethora of options for keeping senior visitors entertained. Annual events include the July 4th Freedom Festival, Sherman County Free Fair in August and Flatlander’s Festival in September.

Other events of note feature an 18 hole golf course called Sugar Hills. Goodland has proven to be a very appropriate name for the fertile lands of Sherman County.

Established in 1959, the High Plains Museum is a local history repository located near downtown Goodland. Owned and operated by the City of Goodland, the Museum features historical objects from its large collection that represent over one hundred years of northwest Kansas history.

The Puppet Factory in Goodland manufactures 85 different hand puppets. The Morin School house is a historical, restored one-room school house and well worth a visit.

Recreation Parks, Night Golf and Coffee Mill Row

If you care to cool off and have a barrel of fun, stop by Steever Water Park. The Night Golf Tournament and the Slice of Life Tournament both challenge your skills on the rolling hills of the only 18 hole golf course between Hays, Kansas and Denver.

In addition to those annual events, culture and the arts can be appreciated at the Carnegie Arts Center, Black Bird Gallery, and the High Plains Museum.

When Rock Island Railroad made Goodland into a sectional headquarters, railroad workers poured in. They needed housing and Coffee Mill Row, named for the coffee grinders the houses resembled, was born.

Mary Ennis built the Ennis-Handy Queen Anne mansion in 1907 for $5,000. The Sherman County Historical Society is open for tours. Senior travelers, stop in Goodland and enjoy all the neat things there are to see and do. -jeb